Is macrocarpa good for wood turning?

Macrocarpa is a soft timber but works easily and it is slightly harder than radiata. It has a close grain similar to kauri and will turn well.

What is the best wood for turning?

• Reader’s Choice – Top Woods to Turn. With so much effort put into such a small piece of wood, turners are very serious about their stock.
• Figured Maple. There are several types of figured maple including curl, fiddleback, spalted, tiger, birds-eye, and more.
• Walnut.
• Cherry.
• Boxelder.
• Rosewood.
• Pacific Madrone.
• Red Elm.

Is macrocarpa good for outdoor furniture?

Strong, long-lasting and pleasing to the eye, macrocarpa has been a a favourite building material in our neck of the woods ever since the early 20th century. Ideal for constructing everything from exposed beams and flooring to wall panelling, it’s great for outdoor usage as well.

What wood is best for wood lathe?

Best Wood for Turning (Types for Beginner Woodturning Lathe Work)

• Rosewood.
• Pacific Madrone.
• Red Elm.
• Spalted Maple.
• Quartersawn Sycamore.
• Bradford Pear.
• Live Oak Root.
• Cocobolo.

Is macrocarpa better than pine?

It’s denser than ordinary pine and contains more resin, so it burns for longer and puts out more heat. Medium-density woods like macrocarpa burn a bit slower and contain more energy. If you have an open fire, avoid macrocarpa as it’s prone to sparking.

Is macrocarpa a soft wood?

Macrocarpa is a well known decorative softwood timber which is very popular in New Zealand. The appearance is similar to Kauri and quartersawn material has a speckled appearance. The heartwood is golden-brown in colour, sometimes with a pinkish tinge. When freshly cut, macrocarpa has a fragrant spicy odour.

How difficult is wood turning?

But learning the basics of woodturning isn’t difficult. Woodturners tend to be devoted to their craft, and many have little (if any) interest in other traditional fine woodworking skills since there is almost no end the projects that can be created on a lathe alone with the proper tools and techniques.

Is Pine good for wood turning?

Pine is an excellent wood for beginning turners. It is a soft wood and is easy to shape on the lathe. Cutting with a gouge or skew chisel produces a better finish than a scraper when turning between centres. When you are turning bowls you will need a properly burnished scraper to produce a good surface.

Do you need to oil macrocarpa?

OILING, TINTING, PAINTING There are many options for protecting your timber, however we recommend oiling the timber, regardless of its application. Why? When the timber is sawn and put into exposed conditions, if the timber dries too quickly it may check/crack.

Is Pine any good for woodturning?

How long does wood need to dry before turning?

An old rule of thumb is that green wood needs to be air-dried for one year, per inch of its thickness. While this rule will generally be a sound basis for considering the air-drying period, most would agree with the fact that this is quite a long time to wait!

What is the cleanest burning firewood?

Hardwoods such as maple, oak, ash, birch, and most fruit trees are the best burning woods that will give you a hotter and longer burn time. These woods have the least pitch and sap and are generally cleaner to handle.

How are macrocarpa and lusitanica trees related?

Macrocarpa and lusitanica are closely related cypress species with similar timber. However, age of trees has a major influence on timber properties. Younger trees produce wood of lower density and lighter colour than older trees. Macrocarpa is a well known decorative softwood timber which is very popular in New Zealand.

What kind of paint can you use on macrocarpa?

Macrocarpa, when dry, will accept a variety of paints, oils, two pot resins and varnishes. A wide range of glues can be used with macrocarpa. Under internal conditions, both the heartwood and sapwood are resistant to Anobium (common) borer.

What kind of glue to use on macrocarpa?

A good timber for boat building. However, it cannot be steam bent. Macrocarpa, when dry, will accept a variety of paints, oils, two pot resins and varnishes. A wide range of glues can be used with macrocarpa. Under internal conditions, both the heartwood and sapwood are resistant to Anobium (common) borer.

Which is better radiata pine or macrocarpa heartwood?

Macrocarpa heartwood durability is equivalent to structural grade radiata pine treated to Hazard Class H3.2. However, to comply with Clause B2 have cut ends suitably capped.